After losing fullback Benji Clasheen (concussion) and forward Nic Barlow (shoulder) early in the piece, the Rams suffered a 38-24 loss to the Colts at Harden’s Roberts Park, the hosts securing the victory late in the piece after a Western comeback.

Down 32-6, the green and whites thundered back into the contest, Tyrone Harrison’s second four-pointer of the round four game kicking off a tremendous run by the Rams.

Josh Board scored as well, as did returning hooker Campbell Woolnough, his effort a slashing piece of individual brilliance that including a chip and chase before scoring just to the left of the uprights.

Having controlled most of the match, though, Monaro soon wrestled back the momentum and scored the final try of the match to both end Western’s chance of a top two spot in the Daley Cup’s southern pool and ensure their chance at finals football is well and truly alive.

Western coach Paul McDonald was pleased to see his side refuse to give up despite playing two men down and in pretty hot conditions at Harden.

“For us to come back and nearly take the game was a real credit to them,” McDonald said.

Western has been in all of its Laurie Daley Cup clashes, but has fallen short of securing much-needed wins against Penrith, the Illawarra South Coast Dragons and, on Saturday, Monaro.

Those losses mean Western isn’t capable of making the southern pool’s top two, ending the Rams’ under 18s country championship defence.

“We’ve certainly been in every game but haven’t made the most of opportunities,” he said.

“As is the case every week, we started with half our team being lower age. The boys I’ve spoke to have said this is the fastest and hardest football they’ve played.”

McDonald said the group was positive about the late rally mustered to push a Monaro side currently in the top two and would have their “heads up” going into next weekend’s game against the Greater Southern Region Wests Tigers at Camden.

Another positive out of the clash was Woolnough’s return from a meniscus issue suffered prior to round one, last year’s NSW Country under 16s hooker who was outstanding out of acting half for Western on Saturday.

“We don’t want to change much,” McDonald said heading into next week.

“We’ve been a rotating 18 players week in week out and we’ll stay loyal to that group.”